Snow arc ski board and sports arc

ABSTRACT

The snow arc ski board and sports arc is an arch-shaped handle mounted to a snowboard or to any of a variety of sport boards, such as snowboards, skateboards, or boards used in water sports. The arch is removably coupled to the board such that the plane of the arch is aligned with the board&#39;s longitudinal axis, thereby enabling the rider, standing beneath the arch, to firmly grasp the two vertical handles while standing sideways on the board. An elevated platform and sport arc mounted thereon may be attached to the surface of a narrow sport board, the elevated platform having a horizontally planar surface sufficient to enable the rider to stand sideways to the longitudinal axis of the board. A multitude of spines disposed on the upper surface of the board, provides traction for controlling the movement of the sport board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/377,837, filed May 7, 2002, and PatentApplication Serial No. 60/377,839, filed May 7, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to sports boards, and morespecifically, to snowboards, snow skis, water skis, skateboards, and toany vehicle used in a sporting environment in which the rider maybenefit from additional stabilization and support.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Devices providing support and control for riders of snowboards,water skis, skateboards, toboggans and generally, any board used in asport environment, have been developed and primarily consist of avertical support member and handle disposed at the front of the board.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 1,330,644, issued to A. J. Matson in 1920,discloses an upwardly curved steering rod mounted on a device used onsnow or ice in the capacity of a toboggan. The device can also beconverted and used as a wheel coaster on dry ground.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 1,524,850, issued to G. Van Daam in 1925, disclosesan improved foot sled adapted for use in the snow by children, having ahorizontal board and a steering rod and wheel mounted in the front ofthe board. The '850 patent further provides a rubber tread disposed onthe surface of the board for preventing the slipping of the foot fromthe platform.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 1,644,623, issued to J. M. Ahm in 1927, discloses aglider designed for children to be held on one foot for coasting overice or snow. The '623 patent includes a runner having its forward endcurved upward, a post with a handle fixed in the curved forward end tobe held by the rider for support and guidance, a shoe fixed on therunner to removably receive the foot of the rider, and longitudinalgrooves on the underside of the runner both at the forward and rear endsto prevent the runner from side-slipping.

[0009] U.S. Design Pat. No. 246,920, issued to Koblick in 1978,describes a snow scooter having a board with a traction providing topsurface and a vertical post with a handle disposed in the front of theboard.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,313, issued to Benson in 1978, discloses aski device with an upturned front tip and a combination handle and seatmember pivotally mounted on a forward portion of the ski. The uppersurface of the rear portion of the ski is provided with a grippingsurface.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,150, issued to Hardy in 1985, describes asnowboard with a pivotally secured U-shaped handle for stand-up balanceand steering, which may be positioned below the upper riding surface forstorage or for no-handle riding. Similarly, U.S. Design Pat. No.451,162, issued to Spiers in 2001, describes a collapsible snow scooterwith a pivoting and collapsible pole mounted in the front of a snowboardwith a “T” shaped handle at the top of the pole. Furthermore, JapanesePatent No. 2001-310,008, published in 2001, discloses a snowboard with ahandle, which is provided with a freely attachable and detachable handleon the surface of the board.

[0012] Handles and support structures are not limited to single boarddevices. U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,444, issued to Parkinson in 1987, disclosesa ski steering apparatus having a handlebar, telescoping column, andpivotal and rotatable connectors for mounting to a pair of skis. GermanPatent No. 3,414,757, published in 1985, discloses a sledge with skirunners which are rigidly connected to one another via a frame structureand a tread bar, a push rod connecting the sides of the frame in thefront of the rider, on which the rider can hold tight with their hands.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,154, issued to Baldwin in 1995, describes astabilizer for skiers having two skis, each of the two skis having apair of support members rising from the top surface of the ski, and athree sided railing, parallel to the ground, mounted to the verticalmembers, a fourth side open to the rear of the skis.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,013, issued to Wingard in 2000, discloses asnow scooter with an upwardly projecting steering and braking handle forproviding maneuverability of the device as well as balance and supportfor the rider. The board may be upwardly curved at one or both ends. Anon-slip surface that may include protrusions is provided.

[0015] Skateboards and in-line skaters have also been the beneficiary ofdevices to improve their control over their respective sport vehicles.U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,732, issued to Olsen in 1999, describes an in-lineskate sail comprising two poles, each having an upper portion and alower portion. The edges of the sail are attached to the upper portionsthe poles. The bottom portion of each pole releasably anchors to therider's skates. The sail projects over the head of a rider as the ridergrasps a pole with each hand.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,880, issued to Favorito et al. in 2001,discloses a convertible skateboard/scooter having a handle hinged to thebase board and is movable between a lower position, lying near thesurface of the board, whereby the device can be used as a conventionalskateboard, and an upper position in which the device can be used as aconventional scooter with the handle rising vertically from the front ofthe board.

[0017] Support structures have also been incorporated into boards usedin water sports. U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,208, issued to Corica in 1990,discloses a surfboard having an elastic strap housed in a well in theupper surface of the surfboard, wherein the strap is pulled on a by asurfer to maintain control of the board while doing aerials.

[0018] A rider of the aforementioned devices would normally grasp theforward mounted handle with two hands for maximum control. However, thistwo handed grip results in a front facing body behind the rider, therebyallowing the rider to maintain his shoulders in line with the directionof the board, at the expense of loss of control of the handle.

[0019] Furthermore, many snowboards without handles have elaboratebootstraps secured to the snowboard, preventing the rider from adjustingtheir stance and prevent the rider from quickly and easily disengagingthemselves from the board.

[0020] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly orin combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.Thus a snow arc ski board and sports arc solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention is a snow arc ski board and sports arc forproviding stabilization and control for boards used in sports. Thesports arc is an arch shaped handle and may be mounted to a variety ofsport boards including snowboards, skateboards, and boards for use inwater sports, and provides the rider with improved maneuvering abilitieswhile freeing the rider from encumbering foot restraints. Thesubstantially rigid arch-shaped handle is vertically mounted to a sportsboard such that the plane of the arch is aligned with the board'slongitudinal axis, thereby enabling a rider, standing beneath the arch,to firmly grasp the sides of the arch while presenting their profile tothe front of the board. The height and width of the arch-shaped handlemay be telescopically adjusted. Furthermore, the handle may be removablyattached to the base of the sport board.

[0022] Unlike many snowboards which have boot brackets that securelyattach a rider's foot to the surface of the board, the snow arc skiboard of the present invention has a plurality of spines disposed on theupper surface of the board which removably engage grooves on the solesof the rider's boots, thereby providing a non-skid surface enabling therider to control the angle, pitch, and direction of the board withoutelaborate buckles and straps.

[0023] Furthermore, a short horizontal brace, pivotally and removablyattached to either vertical support, provides the rider with additionalcontrol over their board when traversing patches of rough terrain. Whennot in use, the brace may be pivoted out of the way.

[0024] Snowboards and other sport boards as described above are normallyof a width sufficient to allow a rider to stand perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the board, thereby presenting their profile to thefront of the board. In many sports, this sideways stance is preferredfor balance, stability, and mobility.

[0025] However, snow skis and other narrow sport boards are often of awidth that precludes a rider from assuming this advantageous sidewaysposition. For these narrow sport boards, an elevated platform and sportsarc mounted thereon may be attached to the top surface of the sportboard, the elevated platform having a horizontally planar surfacesufficient in size for a rider to stand sideways to the longitudinalaxis of the board.

[0026] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to providea sports arc that can be removably attached to a variety of sport boardsincluding snowboards, skateboards, and boards used in water sports.

[0027] It is another object of the invention to provide a snowboard andskateboard with a removably attached arch-shaped handle.

[0028] It is a further object of the invention to provide a sports archaving an adjustable vertical height and width.

[0029] Still another object of the invention is to provide a sports arcand sport board that can be easily disassembled and reconfigured forease of transporting.

[0030] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0031] These and other objects of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a snowboardembodiment of the sport board and sports arc according to the presentinvention.

[0033]FIG. 2 is a side view of the sport board and sports arc of FIG. 1.

[0034]FIG. 3A is an exploded, perspective view of the sport board andsports arc of FIG. 1.

[0035]FIG. 3B is another exploded, perspective view of the sport boardand sports arc of FIG. 1, illustrating the detachable arc segments.

[0036]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sport board and sports arc ofFIG. 1, disassembled and reconfigured for transporting.

[0037]FIG. 5 is an environmental, perspective drawing of sport board andsports arc having an elevated platform adapted to a narrow sport boardaccording to the present invention.

[0038]FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrating theelevated platform.

[0039]FIG. 7 is an environmental, perspective drawing of the sports arcmounted to a skateboard according to the present invention.

[0040]FIG. 8 is a side view of a sports arc according to the presentinvention with forward and rearward angled handles, having the lowerends of the arch curving underneath the upturned ends of a skateboard.

[0041]FIG. 9 is an environmental, perspective view of the sports arcaccording to FIG. 8 mounted to a skateboard.

[0042] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] The present invention is a snow arc ski board and sports arc,designated generally as 100 in the drawings. The sports arc is anarch-shaped handle that provides the rider with improved maneuveringabilities while freeing the rider from encumbering foot restraints. Thehandle may be integrated with a variety of sport boards, such as asnowboard, snow ski, skateboard or boards used in water sports. The archwas chosen as the preferred handle shape for its inherent strength andlack of protruding ends. Furthermore, in the event of a fall, the archacts as a brake and prevents the rider from chasing his board down theski slope.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the presentinvention is comprised of a sport arc 101 mounted to a standard widthsnowboard 118. The sports arc 101 is an arch-shaped handle constructedfrom a substantially rigid material, which may include, but is notlimited to plastic, graphite, carbon composites, fiberglass, wood, andmetal. The sports arc 101 may be comprised of a single arch-shapedsegment, or as best shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, may be comprised of anupper arc section 120 and two poles 102, 104 extending downward from theupper arc 120, the lower ends of the poles 102, 104 removably attachedto the surface of the snowboard 118 by a pair of brackets 106, 108.

[0045] A non-skid surface 110 comprised of a multitude of verticalspines 212 disposed on the top surface of the snowboard 118 enables therider to control the motion of the snowboard 118 without elaboratestraps and buckles.

[0046] To hold a rider's feet securely to the snowboard 118 whiletraversing patches of rough terrain, a wedge 112, constructed fromrubber, or other suitable material, is slidably attached to the arc 101just above the rider's foot. Pivotally attached by a screw 114 or otherfastening means, the wedge 112 protrudes from the side of the arc 101and over the foot of the rider. Adjustable to the rider's foot, thewedge 112 can be tightened at a height that would secure the rider'sfoot between the snowboard 118 and the wedge 112. When not in use, thewedge 112 may be swiveled out of the way.

[0047] As shown in the exploded view of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the arc 101 maybe comprised of several interlocking and telescoping segments. The upperarc segment 120 is telescopically received by poles 102 and 104, and issecured in the desired position by spring-loaded detent buttons 208, 210disposed within the lower ends of the upper arc segment 120 and receivedby apertures formed within the upper ends of the poles 102, 104.Similarly, spring-loaded buttons 310, 312, disposed within the lowerends of the poles 102, 104, provide the means for securing the ends ofthe arc 101 within the recesses 302, 304 of the brackets 106, 108. Thebrackets 106, 108 are mounted on the surface of the snowboard 118 usingbolts or screws. As shown in FIG. 3B, the upper arc may be furtherdivided into smaller segments 320, 322 for ease of storage andtransportation, in addition to providing a means for adjusting the widthof the arch. Although the present embodiment uses spring loaded detentbuttons, the telescoping mechanism may be of any of a known variety ofadjustable connecting devices.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, the sports arc 101 and sport board 118 may bedisassembled and reconfigured for ease of carrying or transporting.Brackets 106, 108 secure the lower ends of the upper arc section 206,and removable clips 402 attached to the arc 206 secure the poles 102,104 across the base of the upper arc section 206 parallel to board 118.The clips 402 may be made of plastic or other suitable material.

[0049]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention for narrow sport boards, such as a single snow ski 502, andenables the rider to position themselves perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the narrower board. The platform 504 is attached byscrews or bolts 516 to a pair of pedestals 506, 508 several inches abovethe narrow ski 502, the elevated platform providing the ability to leanto either side of the board with little or no toe or heel drag. As bestshown in FIG. 6, screws or bolts 604 fasten the pedestals 506, 508 tothe board 502. The platform 504 and pedestals 506, 508 may be fabricatedfrom plastic, graphite, carbon composites, fiberglass, wood, metal, orother suitable material.

[0050]FIG. 7 illustrates a skateboard embodiment of the sports arc inwhich the ends of a non-adjustable sports arc 704 are mounted beneaththe forward 708 and rearward 706 upturned ends of a skateboard 702. Thisunderneath mounting method may also be desirable in the elevatedplatform version for snowboards where the length of the elevatedplatform 504 is insufficient to have a top surface mounted arch-shapedhandle.

[0051] A properly fitting sport arc has the apex of the arch about ahead higher than the top of the rider's head when their legs areseparated at about shoulder width. The width of the arch should allowthe rider a comfortable grip without pinning the elbows against therider's sides or causing him to extend his arms too far out to the sidein a tiring and potentially dangerous position.

[0052]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment of the sports arc having anarch-shaped handle 802 with ends 804, 806 which mount to the bottom sideof the front and rear upward turned ends of a board 902. In thisembodiment, the legs of the arch 802 angle outwards to the front andrear, increasing the width of the opening beneath the arch 802.

[0053] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and allembodiments within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A sports arc for mounting to a sport board, the sports arccomprising: an arc-shaped handle having an arcuate upper section and apair of parallel poles extending from opposite ends of the uppersection; and a pair of brackets adapted for attachment to opposite endsof an elongated sport board, the brackets having fittings definingrecesses, said poles being inserted into the recesses and attachedthereto; wherein said arc-shaped handle is dimensioned and configuredfor extending above a rider's head when the rider stands on the sportboard; whereby the arc-shaped handle is disposed in a plane extendingalong a longitudinal axis of the sport board in order to provide therider with stability and control.
 2. The sports arc according to claim1, wherein the arcuate upper section and the two parallel poles of saidarc-shaped handle are made in a single, unitary, one-piece structure. 3.The sports arc according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate upper sectionand the two parallel poles of said arc-shaped handle are made inseparable components, the arcuate upper section having a pair ofopposing ends telescoping into the parallel poles.
 4. The sports arcaccording to claim 3, wherein the arcuate upper segment comprises twosegments removably attached to each other at an apex of the arch.
 5. Thesports arc according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of sleevesslidable on the opposing ends of the arcuate upper section, the sleeveshaving clips removable receiving said two parallel poles, whereby theopposing ends of the arcuate upper section are insertable in thebrackets with the sleeves disposed on the upper section and said twopoles clipped to the sleeves for compact storage and transport.
 6. Thesports arc according to claim 1, further comprising a wedge made from aresilient material pivotally attached to one of said poles, the wedgebeing removably secured to said one of said poles in order to secure therider's foot to the sport board.
 7. A sport board and arc, comprising:an elongated base having a substantially rectangular top surface with atleast one up-turned end, and having a lower surface, the base defining aperimeter and being adapted for supporting a rider in a standingposition; an arch-shaped handle having two poles extending upwardly fromthe base and joining to form an arch at an apex of the handle, each polehaving a lower end attached to the base, the arch-shaped handle defininga plane, the plane being normal to and in longitudinal alignment withthe base, whereby the poles can be grasped by a rider standing sidewayson the base beneath the arch-shaped handle.
 8. The sport board and arcaccording to claim 7, wherein the lower ends of the poles are rigidlyattached to the lower surface of the base at the at least upturned end9. The sport board and arc according to claim 7, further comprising apair of brackets mounted to the base, the brackets removably receivingthe lower ends of the poles.
 10. The sport board and arc according toclaim 7, further comprising a traction surface disposed on the topsurface of the base.
 11. The sport board according to claim 10, whereinthe traction surface has a plurality of spines extending from the topsurface of the base, the spines being adapted to engage a grooved soleof a boot worn by the rider.
 12. The sport board and arc according toclaim 7, wherein the base comprises a snowboard.
 13. The sport board andarc according to claim 7, wherein the base comprises a skateboard. 14.The sport board and arc according to claim 7, further comprising a wedgeextending horizontally from and slidably and pivotally mounted to one ofthe elongated members, whereby the wedge may be rotated in a horizontalplane to a first position, whereby a rider's foot is secured thereunder,and is rotatable to a second position unencumbering the rider's foot.15. A sport board and arc, comprising: an elongated base having asubstantially rectangular top surface with at least one up-turned end,and having a lower surface, the base defining a perimeter; an elevatedand substantially planar platform having a top surface and a bottomsurface, the bottom being mounted to the base, the platform beingadapted for supporting a rider in a standing position; and anarch-shaped handle having two poles extending upwardly from the platformand joining in order to form an arch above the platform, each polehaving a lower end attached to the platform, the arch-shaped handledefining a plane, the plane being normal to and in longitudinalalignment with the platform, the arch-shaped handle being adapted forextending above the rider's head, whereby the two poles can be graspedby the rider while standing sideways on the platform beneath the arch.16. The sport board and arc according to claim 15, wherein the elevatedplatform has a width approximately equal to the rider's foot size,whereby a rider may comfortably stand sideways on the platform.
 17. Thesport board and arc according to claim 15, further comprising a tractionsurface disposed on the elevated platform, the traction surface having aplurality of spines extending upward from the top surface of theplatform, the spines being adapted to engage a grooved sole of a boot ofthe rider.